Stuck With You

by Carla Burgess

  ‘Elena, will you marry me?’ He presented the ring between his thumb and forefinger.

  Just for a second, I allowed myself to believe the fantasy and felt a rush of joy. ‘Yes, now get up before people think you’re being serious.’

  People started clapping and whistling and cheering, and Daniel stood back up, laughing. He slipped the plastic ring onto the third finger of my left hand and pulled me into a kiss. ‘I am being serious,’ he said, against my mouth.

  ‘You two are gross,’ said Katie from beside us.

  ‘Bugger off now,’ he said, obviously irritated by their presence.

  ‘I’m telling Dad you swore at us.’

  ‘Yeah? Well, I’m telling the bouncer you’re only fourteen. Go on, scram.’

  ‘Aw, that’s not very nice. They’re only young.’

  ‘You didn’t think that when you thought I was shagging them, did you? I saw your face.’

  I cleared my throat. ‘Well, they looked older from over there. I thought they were flirting.’

  ‘Flirting? Begging me to buy them alcohol, more like. Richie would have my head on a stick if he thought I’d bought them booze.’

  ‘Is he here?’

  ‘Yeah, over in the corner with my Auntie June. I’d tell you to sit with them but they’ve had a row.’

  ‘I’m fine here. Do you need to go backstage and tune up or something?’

  ‘Not yet. We’re all just wandering around the bar. Zach’s somewhere, trying to talk to Stacey while her boyfriend glowers down at him.’

  ‘Oh no, poor Zach.’

  Daniel shrugged. ‘I doubt he even noticed.’

  ‘Has everything calmed down after all the arguing last night?’

  ‘Things are still tense. Hopefully everyone will calm down after we play.’

  ‘Are you nervous?’

  ‘A bit. Especially as you’re here.’

  ‘Me? You don’t need to worry about me.’ I stood on tiptoe to kiss him and he wrapped his arm around me, pressing me into him. ‘Are your parents here?’

  He shook his head. ‘They usually come to my gigs but there’s some golf club awards ceremony thing they’ve gone to tonight.’ He smiled down at me. ‘My dad wants to meet you though.’

  ‘You told him about me?’

  ‘Of course.’

  A big ginger guy appeared behind Daniel and tapped him on the shoulder. I recognised him as Kev, his drummer, who also went to college with us.

  ‘We’re on in five minutes,’ he said before pointing a finger at me. ‘I remember you. Cello girl.’

  I raised an eyebrow. ‘Cello girl?’

  Daniel laughed. ‘I hope you’ve brought it with you, by the way?’

  ‘Oh yes, I just carried it on the bus with me and now it’s stored behind the bar. Of course I haven’t got it with me. I haven’t played it in years.’

  ‘But you are going to play it for me, aren’t you? One day?’

  ‘Perhaps. But I’ll be wearing clothes.’

  ‘Spoilsport.’ He kissed me again. ‘I’d better go anyway. I’ll see you after.’

  ‘Okay. Good luck.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  He flashed a smile before disappearing into the stage area. I sipped from my bottle of beer. I could feel people’s eyes on me and I cursed Daniel for making such a spectacle of us both. I worked the plastic ring round and round my finger with my thumb, looking down at my hand in amusement. A man on the table to my right touched my arm.

  ‘Congratulations,’ he said. ‘I’ve just got engaged myself.’

  ‘You have? That’s wonderful.’ I smiled at him. He was about forty, dark hair and eyes and a warm, wide smile. ‘Did you give your fiancée a plastic ring too?’

  Laughing, I held it out to him so he could see.

  ‘No, I had my grandmother’s engagement ring.’

  ‘Aw, that’s lovely.’

  ‘I’m sure he’ll get you a proper one. He’s a nice lad, Daniel.’

  I smiled and shook my head. ‘He was only joking around. We’re not really engaged.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ He raised an eyebrow, eyes twinkling.

  ‘Of course. We’ve only known each other for about two weeks.’

  He laughed and ran a hand over his face. His eyes shone with mirth. ‘A lot can happen in two weeks, believe me. I should know.’

  I was about to ask him what he meant when a lady came over and sat down beside him. Leaning over, she kissed his cheek and he smiled into her eyes, taking her hand in his. A diamond engagement ring sparkled on her finger. She looked up and caught me watching and smiled.

  ‘Congratulations on your engagement,’ she said.

  I shook my head, laughing. ‘I was just saying, it wasn’t real. He was only joking.’ I flashed my plastic ring.

  She grinned and tilted her head at her fiancé. ‘I asked this one to marry me, just pretend, while my mum was over for Christmas, but now we really are getting married. And I’m having a baby.’ She stood up, smoothing her navy-blue dress over her small, neat baby bump.

  ‘Wow! That must have been some Christmas.’

  She laughed. ‘I’m Emily, by the way, and this is Sam.’

  ‘I’m Elena.’

  ‘Come and join us. You may as well sit with us while you wait for Daniel.’ Emily pushed an empty stool towards me.

  ‘Thank you,’ I smiled gratefully and sat down. ‘Do you know the band?’

  Emily tipped her head towards Sam. ‘Sam knows them through Zach.’

  ‘Aw, I love Zach.’

  ‘He’s a good lad.’ Sam nodded. ‘Oh, here they come.’

  We turned towards the stage as the band appeared. The crowd clapped and cheered as Zach said good evening and launched into the first song, a cover of ‘Sex On Fire’ by Kings of Leon.

  It’d been a long time since I’d seen Daniel play guitar. It took me right back to his first student gigs, where I’d stand as close to the front as I could get without being too obvious, and just watch him in total awe. His long hair would be swinging about as he rocked out to the music, eyes cast down and completely focused on his guitar, face serious and brooding. He was exactly the same now, but without the long hair. And with better arm muscles, I noted, watching his arms with interest.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Zach was singing in his rich, powerful voice, and I was dimly aware of his man bun bouncing and shaking as he danced around, but I barely glanced at him once. If this thing with Daniel wasn’t real, and if it was going to come to a short, sharp end sometime soon, then I wanted to commit this moment to memory and store it in my own internal Daniel box. Whatever was happening between us, and however long it lasted, Daniel was the closest thing to magic I’d ever found.

  ‘They’re good, aren’t they?’ Emily said, as they paused between songs.

  I nodded, finally tearing my eyes away from Daniel. ‘Brilliant!’ I agreed. I noticed that Sam had his hand on the back of her neck, his thumb massaging the bare skin above her dress. They were a cute couple.

  Zach launched into another song and Katie and Sophia started dancing in front of the stage. Daniel’s eyes flickered up to them and he gave the faintest of grudging smiles, while also managing to look irritated. It made me laugh.

  The set was over far too quickly. They played ten songs, plus an encore and received thunderous applause, cheers and whistles. Zach giggled endearingly into the microphone and said thank you, and Daniel raised his arms and clapped the crowd before setting his guitar down and stepping down from the stage. Katie and Sophia immediately mobbed him, and he laughingly allowed himself to be wrestled into the tight embrace of his two teenage cousins. Richie appeared and pulled the girls away, before slapping Daniel on the back and giving him a manly hug. Zach appeared behind Sam, and placed his hands on Sam’s shoulders.

  ‘Well done, lad,’ Sam said, twisting round to look at him. ‘You did good.’

  ‘Thanks, Dad!’
Zach grinned down at him.

  ‘Don’t call me Dad, you cheeky bugger. I’m not old enough to be your dad.’

  Zach laughed and looked across at me. ‘You’ve met Sam and Emily, I take it? They’re great.’

  ‘I have and yes they are.’ I smiled across at them. Emily was leaning against Sam’s arm now, her head on his shoulder.

  ‘Sam looked after me when I ran away from home once.’

  ‘Why’d you run away from home? Your mum’s lovely.’

  ‘That’s what Sam made me realise. So I went home.’

  ‘Too many kids out there on the streets.’ Sam shook his head. ‘Anyway, Zach, we’re going to go home. Emily’s tired.’

  ‘Thanks for coming, both of you.’ Zach embraced them both in a group hug. ‘See you soon.’

  ‘Hope to see you again, Elena.’ Emily smiled across at me as Sam helped her on with her jacket.

  ‘Yes, me too. Good luck with the baby.’

  ‘And remember,’ Sam said, with a grin. ‘Two weeks is plenty of time.’ He winked and Emily shook her head at me, laughing. Sam slipped his arm around her and led her away. Daniel appeared at my side.

  ‘Hello!’ He put his arms around my neck and hugged me. I kissed his throat, inhaling his hot male scent.

  ‘You were amazing. You reminded me so much of when you were younger. You never looked up then either.’

  Daniel laughed as he pulled the stool that Emily had vacated round to my side of the table. ‘Oh no, I keep my eyes down at all times. I’m really not that great at playing guitar.’

  ‘Don’t be stupid. You’re great,’ Zach slipped onto Sam’s seat and rested his elbows on the table. ‘I’m tired now.’

  ‘Is your mum here, Zach?’

  ‘Somewhere. She was standing with Stacey before. God, I’m knackered. You know what I need? Tequila!’

  ‘No!’ me and Daniel said at the same time. We laughed at Zach’s disappointed face.

  ‘Maybe you just need to sleep, Zach?’ I suggested. ‘You must be knackered after all that singing and dancing and thrusting.’

  ‘I’m surprised you noticed me at all,’ Zach said with a laugh. ‘Whenever I looked at you, your eyes were firmly fixed on Daniel.’

  I felt my cheeks go red. ‘Well, we did just get engaged,’ I said, trying to make a joke out of it.

  Daniel grinned. ‘I’m going to get a drink,’ he said. ‘Do you want one.’

  ‘I’ll get them.’ I stood up and grabbed my bag. ‘What do you want? A beer? Same for you, Zach?’

  ‘Please.’

  While I was at the bar, more people joined our table. Steve the bass player had nicked my seat, and Kev was standing next to Zach. They both looked tense and angry. I hoped they weren’t going to have another argument. I bought them all a beer, and carried them over. Richie was saying his goodbyes to Daniel, and Katie and Sophia were scowling nearby and looking sulky. I noticed they were eyeing up Zach, but Zach was completely oblivious to the attention. I carried the beers back to the table, then returned to the bar for my drink.

  People were starting to leave the pub now the band had finished, and more tables were becoming empty. I dragged over another chair and sat beside Daniel, just as Richie and the kids were leaving.

  ‘Cheers for the drinks, Elena.’ Zach held up his bottle in a salute, and the other boys did the same.

  ‘You’re welcome. So, where are all your groupies?’ I asked. ‘Shouldn’t you buff young rock stars be surrounded by young ladies?’

  Steve laughed and pointed at the door. ‘They just left with their parents.’

  Daniel laughed. ‘I told you. We’re not exactly snorting cocaine off women’s buttocks.’

  ‘I should think not!’ Zach’s mum appeared behind Daniel and Zach went red. She shot him a disapproving look, even though he wasn’t the one who’d been talking. ‘Good show tonight, boys. You did well. Are you coming home with me, Zach, or are you staying out?’

  ‘I can’t go home yet, Mum. I’ve got my rock star reputation to uphold.’ He grinned at her and she rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, well, no more tequila, and definitely no cocaine. Do you hear me?’

  ‘Yes, Mum.’

  ‘Right, well, Stacey’s boyfriend’s giving me a lift, so I’d better go. Bye.’

  Zach rolled his eyes as she walked away. ‘Like I’d get a lift with that bastard!’ he said, once she was safely out of earshot.

  ‘I doubt he’d offer you one, from the look he was giving you before when you were talking to Stacey.’

  Zach grinned and took a swig of beer. ‘Ha! I love winding him up.’

  ‘Surely if you have the power to make him jealous, that must tell you something?’ I said. ‘Stacey looks at you like you’re some kind of rock god.’

  Zach waved me away. ‘She thinks of me as a brother, that’s all.’

  ‘So why don’t you think of her like a sister?’ Steve asked. ‘It would save you a lot of heartache.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘You need to move on, mate,’ Kev said. ‘Get yourself a proper girlfriend. You can’t pine after Stacey for ever. Have you got any nice friends, Elena?’

  ‘Well, they’re all a bit older than Zach.’

  ‘Ooh, cougars, Zach! Sexy.’

  ‘My friends wouldn’t be that much older!’ I protested. ‘I doubt I could be classed as a cougar at twenty-five.’

  Zach yawned, apparently losing interest in this conversation. ‘Where are we going now then, lads? Liverpool?’

  ‘Nah, I can’t be arsed to go all the way there. Besides, we still need to pack up the truck.’

  ‘That’s not going to take long, is it?’ Zach said. ‘Jeez, this is the last time I get a band together with old men.’

  ‘Why don’t you piss off and join another band then?’ Kev smacked his beer bottle down onto the table.

  ‘Maybe I fucking well will,’ Zach replied, rising to his feet and puffing out his chest, despite being at least a head smaller than Kev.

  ‘Lads…’ Daniel raised his hands placatingly. ‘Come on, calm down. We’re mates, aren’t we? We stick together.’

  ‘Tell him not to be such a dick then.’

  ‘Me a dick?’ Zach spat. ‘You want to take a look at yourself, you arrogant piece of shit.’

  ‘You can fucking talk.’

  ‘Yeah, I can actually,’

  ‘Jesus! This is like being in a playground.’ Steve’s lip curled and he stepped away. ‘I’m going to pack up.’

  ‘Good idea.’ Daniel picked up his beer and took my hand. ‘Come with me.’ He shot an angry look at Zach and Kev.

  I leaned against the wall and watched Daniel unplug his guitar from the amp. His shirt had come untucked at the back, and I found myself staring at the exposed patch of skin. How could a little bit of skin like that make me so hot? I wondered what he’d do if I bent and kissed it. Or if I licked it.

  Daniel turned round and caught me watching. His face flooded with colour and he grinned as he stepped towards me, planting a kiss on my lips.

  ‘You’re beautiful,’ he murmured.

  My eyes flickered up to his. I bit my lip. ‘So are you.’

  My heart was thumping as he pressed his body against mine. I hooked my thumbs through his belt loops and pulled him closer still, kissing his throat.

  ‘Are you coming back to mine?’ he murmured into my hair.

  ‘Oi, Daniel. No time for that,’ Steve called, grinning over.

  Daniel kissed me once more then pulled away from me. ‘Can I do anything?’ I asked.

  ‘Yeah, stop distracting Daniel.’ Kev grinned as he loped over to pack up his drum kit.

  There was a stool next to the stage, so I sat down and waited while they packed up. The pub was virtually empty now, with just bar staff polishing glasses. I couldn’t remember Kev that well from college, but he’d always seemed pretty quiet to me. I was surprised he seemed to be clashing so badly with Zach.

&n
bsp; Zach was still sitting on his own at the table, looking miserable. I was just about to go and sit with him when he got up and marched over to the stage.

  ‘You’re such a prick, man,’ Zach snarled at Kev.

  ‘Are you really looking for a fight with me?’ Kev’s eyes got really mad and he towered over Zach, fists clenched, like an angry ginger bull.

  ‘I could fucking have you!’ Zach snarled.

  ‘Hey!’ Daniel stepped between them and took hold of Kev’s shoulder’s.

  Steve put a hand on Zach’s chest, making him take a step backwards. ‘Calm down.’

  ‘What’s the matter with you two? Are you really going to tear each other apart over a petty squabble when we’ve just played a really great set? I don’t know about you, but I had the best time up there tonight. We’re really starting to pull together. Don’t throw it away by being a pair of dicks.’

  ‘I can’t work with his ego, man.’ Kev gestured at Zach. ‘He thinks he’s Axl fucking Rose or something.’

  ‘My ego? You should listen to yourself sometime. Always whining and complaining.’ Zach stabbed a finger at Kev over Daniel’s shoulder.

  ‘It’s you causing all the problems, Zach. Nothing’s ever good enough for you. You want to do this or you want to do that. It’s like you think we’re holding you back. The only person holding you back is yourself. You can’t even get it together to ask the girl you like out. Face it, Zach. You’re pathetic.’

  ‘That’s enough, Kev.’ Daniel gave him a shove, and Kev pushed him backwards into Steve, who knocked Zach off the stage. I saw rage flash across Zach’s face and he grabbed the mic stand and swung it at Kev. I could see what was going to happen as soon as he swung it. Time seemed to move in slow motion as I jumped to my feet and shouted ‘Nooooooo!’ but the metal pole continued its arc through the air until its base struck Daniel across the side of the head.

  He fell instantly, blood pouring from a gash on the side of his head. I was next to him in an instant, cradling his head in my lap, trying to stem the flow of blood.

  ‘Jesus, Zach!’ Steve said, horrified. Kev staggered back in horror and Zach dropped to his knees next to me, face frozen with fear. ‘Someone call an ambulance,’ I shouted.